CCMIN031516 - Laserfiche WebLink

12. Update on the Stage 3 Drought Emergency Kathleen Yurchak and Utilities Superintendent Dan Martin provided a staff report and a PowerPoint Presentation was displayed. Slides included information regarding the update on where the City is at in regard to conservation efforts. The rain and weather has helped with conservation efforts as well as indoor and outdoor use of water by users. The current and historical rainfall was displayed; there was significant rainfall during March. We are al approximately 11 % for the year and historically we had 4.4 inches in 2013 and El Nino is helping. There is anticipation of meeting the historical average this year. Outside of the tri- valley, a slide was shown as to what is happening around the State. The northern Sierras are the source for Pleasanton's water. Staff hopes there are a few more inches coming from El Nino this year. The Lake Oroville reservoir, which provides service water, is now at exactly average for this time of year normally. Staff is hoping it continues to fill from rainfall and ultimately from melting snowpack. One of the predictions of the El Nino was that the precipitation would fall in the northern part of the State. It is not so great in the southern part of the State. The State officials looks at the State was a whole in terms of drought policy, even though the northern reservoirs are doing well. Councilmember Brown confirmed that even though the northern reservoirs are doing better with catch -up, the southern reservoirs are not fairing as well, due to the topography of the reservoirs. Staff displayed a slide showing the historical averages for the snowpack. The reason this is important is that we are at a delicate point. Looking at actual data and numbers show that we are getting closer to the average, but still need to make up for four years of drought. Mayor Thorne inquired about groundwater. Staff stated that the City tracks groundwater closely at the local level. We are taking advantage of the way that the rain is coming in, which is providing natural "recharge," and staff is taking care not to excessively "pump out." Other places in the State do not have a groundwater monitoring plan and they usually drill to find water. There has been a spike in well - drilling outside of the valley, which is not sustainable. Nature only fills groundwater at a slow rate and it pumps out faster than it can be naturally replenished. There are many factors that go into groundwater recharge. Lots of data has been collected and placed into the water model, so there is a feel for what the groundwater is doing, but it is an inexact science. Councilmember Olson inquired as to when Zone 7 information is reported. Staff stated that monthly data is collected and it gets all collated to larger picture so that generalizations, like a percentage, can be given. Much of the information is preliminary. Mayor Thorne confirmed with staff that it is unlikely that the State will be declaring the end of the drought. Staff stated that once the State changes their requirements, the City can then revisit its water conservation requirements. Staff requested adjustments from the State for the City's State Conservation Standard for population growth and warmer climate and is expecting a response in April 2016. The Department of Water Resources increased the regional allocation of available Delta surface water from 15% to 30 %. It is expected that the 2016 Water Conservation Plan will be presented to Council on April 19, 2016. Councilmember Narum inquired whether bringing recycled online helped with the State request. Staff responded that changes from potable to recycled be considered as a credit and it was denied. The only approval would come from a new drinking water supply. We will not get a credit, however, every gallon from recycled used in lieu of potable gives us a head start as to what we are required to conserve by the State. City Council Minutes Page 8 of 10 March 15, 2016